Isle of Man Country Cottage Double Glazing Upgrade

A somewhat different project for us – one where all discussions, final measurements and specification were organised entirely remotely. And one where the resulting windows seem to blend seamlessly into home, drawing very little attention to themselves. This Santon property originally had single glazed sliding sash windows, and the owner had experience of the quality of the painted wooden windows we sell. He wanted to use a wooden product as the property is sheltered and doesn’t have much direct sunlight. As a result, the white wooden windows will probably not need painting for 8-10 years due to the sheltered outlook and choice of a light colour (meaning the frames will not get as hot in the sun).

The product uses a non-oil-based paint and, thus, the typical oxidation of the oil content within the paint doesn’t occur. If well maintained, these windows will last at least 40 years.

We think this property actually shows off a very important quality of the Danish timber products we offer. A lot of time, a premium-quality Danish or German window can steal the show when fitted to a UK home, and a lot of our customers love this effect. Here though, the decorative bar layout and soft white finish integrate so well with the rendered-cottage feel.

For the front door, choosing a darker colour to the windows is a great opportunity to add a bit of contrast to the home. The blue-grey RAL colour chosen sharply hits against the white render in way that really suits a main entrance. We think this is a perfect choice, and an interesting alternative to the more commonly-found anthracite grey.

On the inside, a classical timber profiling was chosen to further enhance the traditional cottage vibe. This small upgrade can be very important to many customers, and is certainly a choice that divides opinion. For historical properties such as this, it can make a lot of sense compared to standard 90 degree angles.

It’s always important, with a timber window, to consider longevity. The STM Sapino is engineered timber: guaranteed to be free from knots and finished with a microporous water-based paint. The lower glazing beads were specified to be aluminium to greatly reduce the risk of wear on a part of the window – where most rainwater will end up.

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